By the Gazette Editorial Board Of all the several new cities and urban centres that have been launched across the land of Egypt, the New Administrative Capital (NAC) is a megaproject with a special value. Being built on an area of nearly 170,000 feddans just 45 kilometres to the southeast of metropolitan Cairo, the NAC is rising as a symbol of the ambitious state drive to renovate the entire infrastructure of modernity. Showcasing the multiple dimensions of this symbol are the NAC's distinguishing features of integrated services, land and online connectivity, dignified housing, convenient living facilities, up-to-date schools and universities, houses of worship, health and medical care centres and sufficient recreational amenities. And it is worth mentioning in this regard that underlying the idea of building this NAC has been the aspiration for developing a state-of-the-art model of urban planning, meticulous implementation and comfortable services. It is not just a new city where to locate state institutions and departments but, rather, a new forward-looking model with a capacity to help people lead a modern and dignified life as President Sisi stressed while opening the Cairo ICT 2017. In his latest visit to the site, last Friday, President Sisi expressed satisfaction over the progress of works to complete the construction of the city as well as over the quality of action to accomplish the project. For all its distinguishing characteristics, the NAC stands well qualified to project a profound value for the country's present and future. In his visits to the site and in frequent meetings with government officials and senior aides, President Sisi has paced special emphasis on the importance of ensuring that the new administrative capital and other new cities and urban communities being built or planned rise as smart ones with integrated services. Viewing the video clips and footages depicting the progress of works and browsing the project's website suffice to cast highlights on the value of the NAC as model for the planning of other urban expansion projects that are meant to fit in the country's vision for the future. Given this futuristic dimension of the NAC, it was a commendable move by the project's board to arrange a visit to the site for a group of students last week. The visit and likewise steps help foster young people's awareness of the huge and dedicated efforts that the present generation is making to ensure that their future life will be satisfying and promising. The megacity's future-oriented nature also explains much of the private sector's noticeable appeal for the many business and investment opportunities that the project entails, especially in the NAC's financial and business district where some 20 high rises including major administrative and commercial towers will operate. So day after another, the NAC project asserts its distinguishing character as a future-oriented model of integrated services, urban advancement and modernity.
